by Clarke Fountain
synopsis
This highly respectful biographical documentary, narrated by Julian Bond, discusses the vast contributions of the pianist, composer, songwriter and band leader Duke Ellington (1899-1974) to jazz, to his nation, and to his people. The most notable highlights of this film are previously unseen interviews with the artist and never-before-seen footage of the great man in performance with his orchestra. Of particular interest is the documentary's re-creation of the Duke's meeting with Martin Luther King, Jr. Students of jazz history will be interested in the film's discussion of Ellington's three-decade-long collaboration with Billy Strayhorn.
